Private property is a legal term specifically referring to the coercive enforcement by the government of private ownership of land, houses, chattels, and goods. It is characterized by a single owner with absolute dominion over the property. When two or more owners have a claim or if the ownership is temporary or limited, it is not private property. Private property, in the United States of America, is constitutionally protected by state and federal constitution (see: Fifth Amendment)

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Exposition

Property ownership refers to a set of legal rights, held by a person (or persons), relating to a particular thing, which together are recognized as possession of that thing. Ownership consists of possession and control over the item. Although the exact scope of that set of rights can vary depending upon the nature of the thing owned, and from legal system to legal system, certain of those rights represent the core of what is generally understood as “ownership.” Chief amongst these is the right to exclude others from the use or enjoyment of the thing owned.

“Alienability,” or the right to sell (or refuse to sell) is also a core property right. To the typical person, the right to use and enjoy a thing is the most valuable aspect of property rights, but the scope of this aspect of property rights varies greatly from legal system to legal system, and even over time, with changes within a given system.

Estate in property has traditionally been divided into two main types, real property and personal property, or personalty. Real property refers to qualified ownership of land, while personalty constitutes all other types of property. In addition, the law recognizes certain kinds of analogous rights to immaterial assets that are sometimes considered property rights, as well. For example, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights are often referred to as “intellectual property,” because they provide the right to exclude others and the right to sell (but, except for trademark, do not necessarily convey an affirmative right for the owner to use). Furthermore, certain legal theorists have posited that certain other legal rights (particularly government entitlement programs) are "new property." In general, "new property" is not property at all; rather, this is a characterization chosen to try to rhetorically convey upon them the constitutional protection for property rights.

Ownership

Ownership can be characterized as either absolute or qualified. Absolute ownership is synonymous with sovereignty or dominion. Only upon one's private property can one pursue happiness without consent of another. Everywhere else, one needs permission (license) from the other owner, landlord or custodian, else he commits a trespass. The sovereignty of the people referred to in the republican form of government (See: Article 4, Section 4, U.S. Constitution), implicitly recognizes that fact. For sovereignty can only be exercised upon land that one has exclusive and absolute power over. Furthermore, the governments of the U.S.A. also recognize absolute ownership of private property. No state or federal government levies a tax upon private property. And private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation (See: Fifth amendment, U.S. Constitution).

In contrast, estate (real and personal property) is subject to taxation.

PROPERTY TAX - "An ad valorem tax, usually levied by a city or county, on the value of real or personal property that the taxpayer owns on a specified date."
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Biblical source for absolute ownership

In Genesis 1:26-28, man is given dominion over the earth, and all that is upon it. In law, dominion means absolute ownership or sovereignty. Since there can be no collective absolute ownership, the only valid conclusion is that individual men are endowed with the birthright to absolutely own themselves, the fruits of their labor, and that which they harmlessly acquire, including land.

Common misconceptions

It is often assumed that all land is real estate. But estate refers to qualified ownership, and not absolute ownership. Land is one thing, an estate in land is another. Estate is an interest in property that is less than title. Thus a "title deed" to estate is not title, but qualified ownership, a temporary or limited possession of the real estate.

Since absolute ownership is a right, not a privilege, no American government has the delegated power to tax private property.[2] All constitutional delegations of taxing authority are limited to real and personal property (i.e., estate).

Definitions

PRIVATE PROPERTY - As protected from being taken for public uses, is such
property as belongs absolutely to an individual, and of which he has the
exclusive right of disposition. Property of a specific, fixed and tangible
nature, capable of being in possession and transmitted to another, such as
houses, lands, and chattels.
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OWNERSHIP - ... Ownership of property is either absolute or qualified. The
ownership of property is absolute when a single person has the absolute dominion
over it... The ownership is qualified when it is shared with one or more
persons, when the time of enjoyment is deferred or limited, or when the use is
restricted.
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DOMINION - Generally accepted definition of "dominion" is perfect control in
right of ownership. The word implies both title and possession and appears to
require a complete retention of control over disposition. -Sovereignty; as the
dominion of the seas or over a territory.
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LAND - The land is one thing, and the estate in land is another thing, for an estate in land is a time in land or land for a time.
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REAL PROPERTY ... A general term for lands, tenements, heriditaments; which on the death of the owner intestate, passes to his heir."
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ESTATE - The degree, quantity, nature and extent of interest which a person has in real and personal property. An estate in lands, tenements, and hereditaments signifies such interest as the tenant has therein."
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INTEREST - ...More particularly it means a right to have the advantage of accruing from anything ; any right in the nature of property, but less than title.
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